Forward Thinking is a charitable organisation addressing issues related promoting greater understanding and inclusion of Muslims in the UK and the Middle East peace process.

Aims and programs

It has three main Aims

1. To promote in the UK greater understanding and confidence between the diverse grassroots Muslim communities and the wider society including the Media and the British establishment.
2. To promote a more inclusive peace process in the Middle East.
3. To facilitate a global dialogue between the religious and secular worlds.

And two main programs.

1. The UK Programme
2. The Middle East Initiative

The UK programme

The UK Programme aims to help Muslim communities engage with the "Establishment" and the wider society without losing "faith identity". Its work involves providing capacity building support to Muslim charitable organisations at both a local and national level.

The Middle East initiative

The Middle East aim is increase the inclusivity of the peace process through dialogue with hardline Israeli and Palestinian stakeholders who previously had been "unengaged".

Staff

Its Co-Founder and Director is Oliver McTernan. McTernan was a Visiting Fellow of the Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs

Weatherhead Centre for International Affairs

The Weatherhead Center for International Affairs was founded as the Center for International Affairs in 1958 and assumed its current name in 1998 following an endowment by Albert and Celia Weatherhead and the Weatherhead Foundation. The aim of the Center was to confront the worlds problems as...

 at Harvard University

Harvard University

Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...

 2000 -2003 and is a Senior Associate Fellow of the UK Defence Academy. He was responsible for initiating the first post-conflict talks between NATO and the former Yugoslav government. Its UK Programme Director is Huda Jawad.

Funding

It is funded by a variety of sources including ; Westminster Foundation for Democracy; Rayne Foundation; Rayne Trust; City Parochial Foundation; Esmée Fairbairn Foundation; The Bedford Charity, Michael and Giancarla Alen-Buckley; Mr and Mrs Jean Fau; Pierre Keller; Sir Harry Solomon

Harry Solomon (businessman)

Sir Harry Solomon is the founder of Hillsdown Holdings, one of the United Kingdom's largest food businesses.-Career:Educated at St Albans School in Hertfordshire, Harry Solomon qualified as a solicitor in 1960 and went on to practise law...

, Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs.